Arrest made in MJC parking officer attack

MODESTO -- Modesto police have arrested a man accused of wresting a camera and notebook from a parking enforcement officer giving him a ticket.

The incident occurred Monday morning near College and Stoddard avenues. A police assistant enforcing parking near Modesto Junior College started to write a ticket. The driver of the car involved, a silver convertible Ford Mustang, started to drive away.

The police assistant, a man in his 70s, started to take a photograph and write down the license number of the car, police Lt. Jolene Gonzales said. Upon seeing that, the driver stopped, got out of the car, walked up to the assistant and ripped the camera and notebook from his hands before driving away.

Later that day, Justin Meeks, 24, turned himself in to police when he learned officers were looking for him.

Police arrested Meeks on charges of strong-arm robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse, Gonzales said.

"The assault with a deadly weapon charge is because he drove at the assistant as he was leaving," Gonzales said.